Ripple Effects: The Impact of African American Spiritual Mothers/ Women Community Mentors As Observed in the Next Generation of African American Women Leaders

Ripple Effects: The Impact of African American Spiritual Mothers/ Women Community Mentors As Observed in the Next Generation of African American Women Leaders

Penny Delois Witcher | 2024

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study of six African American females was to answer the following two questions: How has the current generation of African American female leaders been shaped by the leadership of their spiritual mothers and community mentors? Based on what was passed down to them, what recommendations would the current generation of African American women leaders make to emerging/aspiring African American women leaders? A phenomenological approach was employed to capture the lived experience of six African American women leaders who were being mentored by a spiritual mother or a church mother to learn if mentoring had an impact on their decision to become a leader. Semistructured interview questions were used to gather data about the phenomenon of these women’s ability to become the prototypical leaders in the community where White men are usually the most dominant. The findings indicated that these Black women were successful leaders because they demonstrated self-mastery, impartation, nurture, and care. Their ability to become the prototypical leader was not due to embodying the behavior and attitude of the group but in demonstration of self-mastery, impartation nurture, and care. The exercise of their own high personal standards, according to the ranking of the themes, was the most significant in their lives. The answers to the questions showed that the leaders were prototypical because they could demonstrate selfmastery, impartation, nurture, and care. These qualities gave the leaders the ability to enter the social landscape of their subordinates and meet the needs and concerns of those subordinates.